WATERS Watershed Action Teams for Education, Restoration and, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

WATERS

Watershed Action Teams for Education, Restoration and, Stewardship

THE BASICS

WATERS focuses on direct involvement of students in hands-on, inquiry- and field-based projects centered in environmental education.

• Primary goals:
• Increase collaboration among environmental educators,

public agencies, and non-profits

• Develop field-based watershed research and

stewardship teams (H.S & M.S.)

• Identify and complete restoration or monitoring

projects for each team

• Promote understanding of scientific methods and

protocols, critical thinking and problem solving

• Promote student collaboration, leadership and peer-to-

peer learning

• Prepare students for work in environmental fields
• Increase diversity amongst student participants

THE TEAMS

HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS

• Aquatic habitat survey
• Thurston H.S.
• Springfield H.S.
• Water quality testing
• Thurston H.S.
• Springfield H.S.
• McKenzie H.S.
• Mohawk H.S.

WATER QUALITY TEAM LOCATIONS (MOHAWK)

WATER QUALITY TEAM LOCATIONS (MCKENZIE)

SPRINGFIELD H.S. WATER QUALITY SITES

THURSTON H.S. WATER QUALITY SITES

N

AQUATIC HABITAT SURVEY SITES

Strube Ponds Gate Creek

WATERS CONFERENCE

Capstone event for high school team members Conference planning under way Will take place in May Students present reports or posters on data analyzed this year Expert panel composed of project partners will engage with presenters Middle school students may participate in a juried art contest

PARTNERSHIP

Real world projects benefit both students and partners Monitoring data used for in- stream projects (USFS, BLM) Water quality data shared with EWEB Native plantings and maintenance at active restoration sites (MRT, landowners) Regional approach

CFWWC

Programatic start in Fall 2016

• Lincoln Middle School

Five schools involved now

• All middle schools in the

Coast Fork watershed. Eventual expansion in to area high schools

THE TEAMS

MIDDLE SCHOOL RESTORATION TEAMS

• McKenzie M.S.
• Coburg Community Charter School
• Agnes Stewart M.S. (two teams)
• Briggs M.S.
• Hamlin M.S.
• Thurston M.S.
• Lincoln Middle School
• Dorena School
• Child’s Way Charter School
• London School
• Creswell M.S.

RESTORATION TEAM LOCATIONS (MWC)

Finn Rock Reach

• McKenzie M.S.

Green Island

• Coburg Community Charter

School Berggren Watershed Conservation Area & Dehne Property

• Agnes Stewart M.S. (two

teams)

• Briggs M.S.
• Hamlin M.S.
• Thurston M.S.

RESTORATION TEAM LOCATIONS (CFWWC)

Rujada Campground

• Child’s Way Charter School
• Dorena School

London School grounds (Coast Fork Willamette River)

• London School

Row River Nature Park

• Lincoln Middle School

Creswell Oaks

• Creswell Middle School

FIELD STUDY LESSONS

Watershed basics Riparian ecology / soil science introduction Twig ID Water quality Benthic macro-invertebrates ID Leaf ID Fish ID

RESTORATION OLYMPICS

Annual capstone event held in June Middle school students from region (200 approx.) Events include:

• 1. Post-assessment test
• 2. Mulching
• 3. Plant ID
• 4. Macro-invertebrate ID
• 5. Fish ID

Prizes for top three teams & pizza for all

STUDENT TAKE AWAY

Meets Next Generation Science Standards Awareness of local ecology Introduction to scientific methods Career development and potentials Outdoor experience Builds teamwork ethic and longterm relationships Multiple years of participation foster sense of

• wnership

Reinforces importance of collaboration and partnerships Empowers students and their ability to make an impact at any age

PROGRAM COSTS

Expense Amount MWC Staff

$50,400

CFWWC Staff

$19,750

Transportation

$4,120

Substitute Teachers

$25,625

Supplies

$22,131

Administration/ Indirect

$13,599

TOTAL

$135,625

WATERS FUNDING (2018)

Funder Amount

Bureau of Land Management $5,000 City of Cottage Grove $3,500 City of Creswell $3,000 Environmental Protection Agency $38,000 Eugene Water & Electric Board $18,500 Gray Family Foundation $8,000 Oregon Community Foundation $1,000 Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board $24,948 Private Donations/Local Match (MWC) $7,625 Private Donations (CFWWC) $24,052 Springfield Public Schools $2,000

TOTAL

$135,625

FUNDING CHALLENGES

OWEB funding changes (no programmatic funding after 2018-19) EWEB Source Water Protection Program limitations (local match) Uncertainty in federal funding (EPA, NFWF) Private foundations:

• Limited funding availability
• Increased competition
• Funder fatigue

FUNDING STRATEGIES

Integrate education funding line items into OWEB Restoration requests

• Riparian restoration team time at active sites
• Aquatic habitat survey pre and post assessments
• Water quality data collection

Leverage local partners to expand existing support

• Financial
• In-kind

Identify and maximize private foundation funding

• pportunities Increase private donations

Increase private donations

THANK YOU!

Questions, comments or feedback?